What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency? A Guide to After-Hours Plumbing Issues

Mainline Plumbing andv Civil Pty Ltd Client • July 21, 2025

The last thing any homeowner, renter or commercial property owner ever wants is for a plumbing emergency to strike. Often, these happen at the worst and most inconvenient times, forcing you to think on your feet as to how to resolve it. It's vital you tackle it head on as a plumbing emergency can cause health, safety and risk property damage.

The big question often is " can this problem wait until office hours or do I need to call an emergency plumber ?" This is a very valid question and one that is worth asking to avoid paying out for an expensive emergency plumber needlessly.

In this article, we will tell you all you need to know when it comes to identifying whether an issue is an emergency or not.

Problems That Constitute A Plumbing Emergency

In some circumstances, the need for an emergency plumber is imperative. Here are some of the tell-tale signs you can look out for.

  • Burst Pipes

Burst pipes rank up there as one of the top reasons people call the emergency plumber. They can quickly lead to significant damage as the water floods your property, ruining flooring, warping wood and causing mould to set in. This problem cannot wait: call the emergency plumber immediately and get it seen to.

  • Sewage Overflow

Sometimes blockages in external drains and sewer lines can cause raw sewage to backflow into your home. This problem is not just smelly and unpleasant, it causes a risk to health as sewage contains nasty pathogens and bacteria. The water itself can also cause property damage.

  • Significant Water Leaks

Uncontrolled water leaks can quickly cause great damage to your property, whether they are from pipes, appliances, hoses or other sources. If you have a significant leak that cannot be contained by buckets or is quickly worsening, it's time to call in the emergency plumber. They will be able to shut off water at the source, preventing further damage.

  • Drain Blockages

Regardless of the source of a blocked pipe, blockages can cause havoc to your plumbing systems. These prevent water from flowing leading to a build up of water, slow drainage and sewage backflows. If you cannot clear them yourself, completely blocked drains or overflowing toilets are an emergency and you need to take action. Your local emergency plumber will have the tools and expertise to rectify this.

  • No Hot Water

Breaks in your hot water systems can be a real headache, stopping you from bathing, washing dishes and maintaining sanitation. Having no hot water is a sure-fire sign you need to hire an emergency plumber. Using their expertise and tools, they will be able to diagnose and fix the problem, whether it is the result of broken heating elements, a burst pipe, a faulty thermostat or something else.

  • Gas Leaks

Can you smell gas and you are unsure of the cause/source? Don't leave it as gas buildup is not only toxic for your health, it can constitute an explosion risk if not addressed by a professional. If you suspect any of your appliances or gas lines have a leak, take immediate action and call in the emergency gas plumber.

Signs Of A Plumbing Emergency

Sometimes it may not be obvious that you are having a plumbing emergency. Watch out for these signs that it is time to call in the emergency plumber:

  • Severe Water Leakage

Gushing water from pipes and appliances indicates that there may be a broken pipe, ruptured pipe joints or loose valves. All of these constitute a plumbing emergency and will only become more severe with time. Prevent further damage to your property and plumbing system by getting help immediately.

  • Water Pools In The Backyard Or On The Floor

Standing water where it shouldn't be is a major sign of a drain or pipe blockage. If sinks, toilets, baths or other fixtures fail to drain, it's time to call in the emergency plumber.

  • Unpleasant Odours

Natural gas has a distinctive rotten egg smell. If you notice this and you have gas appliances, don't hesitate to call an emergency plumber. In addition to being toxic, build ups of natural gas can cause explosions and fires, putting you and your whole family at risk.

  • Condensation Or Moisture On The Walls, Ceilings, or Floors

Have you noticed that your wall, ceiling or floor is wet to the touch? Do you have a mould problem that you cannot get rid of despite trying lots of different solutions? Both of these are signs of leaks that are hidden away where you cannot see. Have no fear, your emergency plumber can utilise thermal imaging devices to identify the problem so it can be resolved.

  • Strange Sounds From Plumbing Pipes

Is your plumbing more noisy than usual? Loud rumbling inside your pipes, thumping sounds from your water lines and gurgling from drains can all be signs of leaks, blockages and bursts. By calling your emergency plumber, you can ensure you get to the source of the issue before further damage occurs.

Tips On When To Call An Emergency Plumber

Are you questioning whether you need an emergency plumber or whether you can wait for a regular plumber? Here's some questions you should ask yourself to find an answer:

  • Do you have a serious leak or gushing water?
  • Is the problem causing significant damage to your property?
  • Is your sewage backed up or overflowing?
  • Is the issue creating a serious risk to your safety and health?
  • Are you without hot water?
  • Is the issue rapidly escalating?

If you answer 'Yes' to the above, it's time to call the emergency plumber.

Need An Emergency Plumber?

Are you having a plumbing emergency? Mainline Plumbing and Civil can help. We have the expertise and specialist tools to help you locate and rectify both water plumbing-related problems and gas leaks. We pride ourselves on providing fast, friendly and professional service to all customers facing plumbing emergencies. So, if you live in Dubbo or the Orana region, get in touch online or call 0423 627 149.

Alternatively, we provide general plumbing work; installations and renovations ; clearing of blocked drains; gas, electric and solar hot water systems; and gasfitting to residential, commercial and civil clients. Get in touch today to find out more.

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Preparing for a plumbing emergency is probably the wrong way to put it. Being prepared is more to the point, and it is a process that starts even before a plumber sets foot in your building. If you are starting from scratch, having the premises built, you are perfectly placed to do the job properly. If you have bought or taken over something that has been in operation for some time, you may be kitting it out because your requirements are rather different or adapting what is there already. Either way, avoiding commercial property plumbing emergencies is the object of the exercise, and this starts with choosing a good company offering commercial plumbing services . That is to say, you probably don’t contact the people who installed your new shower cubicle at home and make their day with the prospect of a big job – unless you know they have the expertise and capacity to deal with that big job. This is no place for sentiment. You’re looking for an outfit that offers commercial emergency plumbing services as part of their regular commercial plumbing services. You will find them online and you’ll still see some advertising in the newspapers and local magazines. You may need to discuss your requirements with them and get an estimate, which will mean showing them around the premises and explaining a bit about what your business entails. Having a good working relationship with your tradies is very helpful and, in this case, can be critical. Nobody is anticipating commercial property plumbing emergencies , but these things happen and the better prepared you are, the greater the chance of minimising trouble. If there are flammable substances on your premises, for instance, the risk of fire increases dramatically, so you fire prevention strategy has to be extremely well thought out, and plumbing contingency planning is best done collaboratively. You know your business and the common hazards as well as the occasional ones that can occur without warning. Is a Fire a Plumbing Emergency? Having a good water supply in the building is clearly essential for all kinds of reasons, and fighting fires is one of them. However, the company carrying out your commercial plumbing services should be well aware of the limitations of water in that respect. Your fire emergency provisions may need to involve foam, dry powder, CO2 or even wet chemicals. However, water can still be essential for many types of blazes, and that is why the fire trucks are still geared up for dousing flames with good old H2O. Water-based Plumbing Emergencies The more common situations that could call for commercial emergency plumbing are leaks and bursts. A leak is a subtle, subversive threat that can suddenly spell trouble if water gets into machinery or the electrical system. Therefore, you need to have a plan for if this happens. Bursts are more dramatic and can cause flooding with clean water or wastewater, and whichever one it is, it needs to be shut down ASAP. Commercial Emergency Plumbing: What to do Let’s say you have taken care with your commercial plumbing services, but something happens anyway; what are you going to do? The most important thing is to stay calm, because racing around in a panic is not going to help. You need to make cool, rational decisions and the first one is to stop the emergency at its source. That might mean shutting down the water supply to a machine or shutting off the water altogether at the mains. It could mean throwing the master switch in the electricity box to avert any danger of electrocution. Call the emergency services immediately and once you have done what you can to stop the flow, get out of the building. You’ve seen the signs in hotels, and you’ve heard the safety briefings on planes: leave anything you don’t absolutely need and get out of there. An emergency is an emergency, and the crucial thing is to make sure everyone involved is safe, including yourself. The aftermath and the repercussions you can deal with afterwards. Preventing Commercial Property Plumbing Emergencies With luck you will never have to deal with a commercial property plumbing emergency, but you know what they say about luck: you make your own. Find a good provider of commercial plumbing services, work with them to get the best possible system in place and don’t let the whole thing down by cutting costs. Using good quality equipment installed and serviced by experts is the best kind of insurance. And there’s the other crucial word: maintenance. Get it done regularly and keep an eye out yourself. Nipping trouble in the bud can save a lot of heartache as well as money, so be vigilant and encourage your employees to do the same. At Mainline Plumbing & Civil, we can help you prevent commercial plumbing issues. Read more about our services here .

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While plumbing in the home is a relatively straightforward business, with the kitchen and bathroom to look after plus the water tank and boiler, in commercial premises it can be a lot more complex, not least because of the scale. In a big commercial unit, you may have hundreds of metres of pipes plus various areas with different purposes and therefore different plumbing needs. It stands to reason, then, that the tradespeople who provide a good, cheerful service in residential settings are not necessarily the best choice for bigger buildings. There are extra considerations in a commercial building, with fire safety prominent among them, and this involves specialised training. There may also be working at height to consider, which again means gaining knowledge and expertise over and above the basic requirements of the plumber’s trade. Certification is needed in specialised areas and there are plumbing compliance standards to be met. Employees of an industrial plumbing contractor will have spent plenty of time studying to gain a thorough understanding of working in commercial settings – and there is a huge variety within the category. Take, for instance, the difference between a factory and an office block, a school’s classrooms and its gymnasium, and that’s before we get to the very special environments of clinical units like hospitals. Every commercial unit has a requirement for water, and a large-scale plumbing infrastructure presents very different issues from a two-bedroom home. Business Plumbing Solutions If you are having a building fitted out for a business, it is important to get a commercial plumbing contractor involved at an early stage. Plumbing has to be incorporated into the premises, rather than added on afterwards. If it’s an office suite, you may be thinking about the ambience, the light, the acoustics, and generally making sure it’s a good place for productivity – and productivity comes from people being comfortable and able to concentrate. While the kitchen area may not be high on your list of priorities, having a decent one is all part of being the kind of employer people want to work for. If you’re setting up an industrial unit there may be a requirement for some showers in addition to the usual washing and toilet facilities, but how big and where? An experienced industrial plumbing contractor can draw on past projects to show you what works and what doesn’t, thereby saving you from making errors that detract from the perceived status of the place of work. Everyone has relatively high standards these days, and it is important that the plumbing doesn’t let you down in either its scope or efficiency. You won’t find industrial options in the hardware superstore on your local industrial estate, so you can either make it up as you go along and take your chances or you can talk to someone accustomed to large-scale plumbing infrastructure. They’re not going to try to push you towards things you don’t need, because their job is to install and service units, not sell them. Having said that, they will have seen which options previous clients were happy with and those that people regretted and soon had to replace. What Extra Skills Do Licensed Commercial Plumbers Have? All plumbers are used to working in confined spaces, but in a big setting, particularly one with high ceilings, safety becomes even more important. A licensed commercial plumber will be trained to work in these conditions, and not only will they be more aware of safety, but because they are comfortable working like this, they can get a good job done rather than failing to do their best because they want to get it over with. Working at heights, for instance, is not something that just anyone would be prepared to do, but a company offering business plumbing solutions will have staff who can work safely up in the rafters while seeing to anything from water pipes to sprinklers. They will have a good knowledge of fire prevention and be able to provide the premises with fire hydrants and reels, the sort of hosing that rolls up flat for convenience and space-saving but turns into a big, fat hose full of water when needed. A plumbing company billing itself as commercial plumbing contractors should also be able to guide you through the legal requirements and point you towards the people to talk to at the council to make sure premises are up to scratch as regards local regulations. If You’re Taking Over an Existing Building Expert assistance is essential when you take over a property that someone else set up, because it is now your responsibility, and a good firm of commercial plumbing contractors will cast an expert eye over the setup to see if it’s okay as it is or needs upgrading. Health and safety regulations are not just obstacles put in your way by bureaucrats; they exist to safeguard your workforce and your customers. At Mainline Plumbing & Civil, we cover all commercial plumbing needs. Read more about those services here .